The BSE Sensex edged down 20 points, or 0.02%, to close at 84,675.08, while the NSE Nifty 50 slipped 3 points, or 0.01%, to finish at 25,938.85, just below the 26,000 mark.
On the 30-stock Sensex, Eternal, Infosys, Asian Paints, UltraTech Cement and Bajaj Finance led the losses, falling between 1% and 2%.
Eternal slid 2% after reports that the chief financial officer of its quick-commerce unit, Blinkit, had resigned.
Broader markets also weakened, with mid-cap stocks down 0.2% and small-caps shedding 0.3%.
The Sensex and Nifty are down about 1% over the past five sessions, pressured by steady foreign selling amid thin trading volumes.
Expert views
The domestic market remained volatile and ended the monthly expiry day flat, despite supportive global cues and selective value buying, said Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Investments, adding that a stronger rupee provided some respite, yet overall sentiment stayed cautious amid persistent FII outflows.
“Sector-wise, while auto stocks gained on robust IIP data, metal stocks gained due to higher metal prices enabling better realisations. Similarly, PSU banks advanced on improved asset quality. Looking ahead, the market is anticipated to stay sideways, awaiting more pronounced outcomes from US-India trade talks and the Q3 results calendar,” said Nair.